Fuller House

The most recent addition to the BAYarts campus, the Fuller House was originally located in east Bay on the lake. It was built in 1892 and owned by Irene Lawrence Fuller, a wedding gift from her father as he had done with all of his children. Decades later, the house was purchased by Dr. Richard Sheppard in 1948 and it became part of the Bay View Hospital.

When the hospital shut down in 1981, the land was sold. Its new owner had plans to build a condominium complex on the property, so the Fuller House was slated to be demolished. However, Sally Price, director of Baycrafters, convinced him to move the house.

And move the house they did! In 1984, the Fuller House was lifted onto a barge and pulled along the coast of Lake Erie. Click through the above slideshow to follow its voyage.

In 2006, Bayarts rebranded to BAYarts and there was newfound interest in the Fuller House. Thanks to a grant and community funding, they were able to begin renovations. The facilities inside the house were updated, and the interior layout was changed to make more space for BAYarts activities. On the outside, they replaced the roof, porches, and painted the house the unique shade of green that makes it so recognizable. Today, the first floor of the Fuller House is the Sullivan Gallery, which displays a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, and art classes are held in the second floor’s studio space.